Illinois’ unemployment rate dropped to 6.8 percent in July, the lowest rate since late 2008, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

July's unemployment rate was a significant drop from June, when Illinois' unemployment rate stood at 7.1 percent, the ninth highest in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That month, the nationwide unemployment rate was 6.2 percent.

“Illinois’ comeback is going strong, and we’ve got more work to do,” Gov. Pat Quinn said in a press release Thursday.

During July, 11,200 new private sector jobs were added, including 3,900 manufacturing jobs, according to Quinn’s release.

The state’s unemployment rate has fallen steadily since July 2013, when it stood at 9.2 percent, and has completed its steepest 12-month decline of 2.4 percentage points since August 1984.